Matthew 10:40-42

Welcoming "in the name of" means welcoming in the honour of; in the reputation of. It means welcoming in a way that is true to the integrity and character and goals of the one being welcomed. In a way that is truly worthy of the one being welcomed.

Year A Pentecost 4 July 2, 2017 Sunday Between June 26 and July 2 Inclusive Proper 8, Ordinary Time 13

This is the end of Jesus' instructions to the 12 disciples that began back in Matthew 10:5.

Again, we get an insight into the importance of hospitality, of welcoming.

Welcoming an individual just did not happen in Jesus' time.

One could only welcome all that individual stood for, and all those tied to them.

So, while "Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me," is a necessary corrective in an individualistic society, Jesus is here simply pointing out the obvious, known, taken-for-granted, social understanding of his time.

Welcoming "in the name of" means welcoming in the honour of; in the reputation of. It means welcoming in a way that is true to the integrity and character and goals of the one being welcomed. In a way that is truly worthy of the one being welcomed.

And since Jesus stood for, and was bonded with, "these little ones," if we want to welcome Jesus into our lives, we must also welcome these little ones in concrete ways that actually meet their real needs. And that could be a simple as (for those of us with access to clean water) giving a cup of cold water.

40 "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

40 "We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. 41 Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. 42 Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing."